Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-01

the city were assembled in it. The COM
panies were one hour and fifteen minutes
passing the grand stand. The military
display was very fine. I noticed that
Mrs. Cleveland seemed to attract almost
as much attention as the President. You
could hear the expression on all sides,
"Where is Frankie-I want to see Frank
ie." She dresses neatly, but extravaganza
ly, and is more beloved and admired than
any woman who has ever occupied the
White House. I was quite near to the
grand stand and had a good view OF her,
and. she is much more beautiful and feml-
nine than her portraits represent her.
After the review was over, the President
held a reception in the White House, and
I went, with several hundred others, and
had the honor of shaking his hand. He
looks just like his portrait, but I thought
seemed very weary and care worn, and l
can not wonder at it.
While I write the thunder Of the can.
o comes rolling up from her river. II
is 8 o'clock at night and a sham battle is
going on which represents the ava bat
tie between the Monitor. and Me1rimac in
Hampton Roads during our war the hrst
battle ever fought between iron clads, and
which revolutionized the navies Of the
world. 1t is a grand sight.
The first, and I may also say, abiding
impression which Washington makes on
a visitor, is that the Government owns
most of it. Government is written all over
it. [ have not met any residents yet thai
were not connected with the Government
in some way. They either have a son OF
daughter, or both, in a government office,
or they are keeping a boarding house
for government clerks, or selling goods to
government people. These vast govern.
ment buildings are great human bee hives.
They literally swarm with people. I tried
to find out how many thousands of govern
ment clerks and officials there were, but no
one could tell me. 1t is no wonder what
q power the government employees are in
the elections. a
One cannot help feeling proud of his
Government when he comes here and sees
such unmistakable evidences of its great.
nessin its magnificent public buildings and
departments. There are about ten OF these
great buildings in different parts of the
city, each covering a whole square ano
four or five stories in height. They are
mostly built of stone, and look as if they
would stand for centuries. They must
have cost thirty or forty millions. The
Capitol cost, l think, eight millions, ano
they are still working on it. When you
consider it's fine situation, and the native
magnificence Of its grounds and its grea'
size, you are notsurprised that good judg
es consider it the most impressive build
ing in the world. From the dome you
can see into four states and the view j:
grand.
At this season of the year, Washington
is, as the young ladies say, "just lovely
and I think I may in all soberness 60 6
great deal further, and say it is the mos
beautiful city I'M the W0rld. I was very
much impressed with this when I was here
ten years ago, but the city has so changed
in that time that I would not have known
it. The part of the city around and NORTH
of the White House is simply enchanting
Every square or two there is a beautiful
park, and the government requires the
houses to beset back some distance from the
street, so that there is a green plot OF blue
grass and vines and flowers in front ofeverJ
residence. The residences are magnificen!
and there are no two alike. Where die
all the money come from to build all these
palaces-for they are palaces? One cal
wander for days along these streets anC
through these parks and find at every turf
something surprising and delightful. The
man who built these streetsand pavement:
ought to have a monument built to his
memory, and yet he left here poor and
disgraced and cursed by the whole city
but they see their mistake now. Alto
gether I do not wonder that when one
comes to Washington and lives here
while, he does not wish to live anywhere
else. j. c. G.